Laser Hair Removal Utah

Get Laser Hair Removal in Salt Lake City, UT

Laser Hair Removal is the most high-tech, long-lasting hair removal option in the Utah market. The ideal candidate for Laser Hair Removal in Utah is someone with unwanted hair growth who has dark hair and light skin.

People with light hair are not as ideal as the laser is designed to be attracted to dark hair that contains a significant amount of melanin. People with natural-born or tan-induced darker skin are not ideal as the laser can get absorbed in the pigmentation and will not reach the hair follicle for proper treatment, which can also lead to skin discoloration.

candidates for laser hair removal

The ideal candidate would have light-colored/pale skin and dark hair. That creates the most contrast between skin color and hair color, which allows the laser energy to accurately target melanin in the hair shafts rather than melanin providing skin color. That’s why we ask our laser hair removal clients to avoid tanning for at least one month before their sessions.

Laser technology is still improving and is becoming more and more sophisticated in differentiating between skin color and hair color, so patients with darker skin tones and lighter hair can be successfully treated. The laser energy usually has to be delivered at a somewhat lower level, however.

How do I prepare for my laser hair removal session?

To get the best results out of your laser hair removal sessions at Utah Facial Plastics, there are a few things to do beforehand:

Avoid sun exposure — If you have a tan, it’s wise to let it fade before coming in for your session. As a rule, we advise patients to not have any sun exposure on the areas with unwanted hair for 4-6 weeks prior to their session.

Avoid plucking, waxing, and electrolysis — We want the hair to be actively anchored in the hair follicle. Plucking, waxing, and electrolysis all disturb the follicle. Shaving is fine, as it doesn’t affect hair in the follicle. We actually want our patients to shave their treatment areas on the morning of their session.

Certain skincare products — Certain anti-aging skincare products can cause irritation when interacting with laser energy. These include alphahydroxy acid, salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and others. We’ll discuss these with you and tell you want to avoid for a few days before and after your appointment.

Clean your skin — We want the treatment areas to be free from cosmetics, lotions, and creams. If you’ve applied deodorant and are having your underarms treated, we will remove it prior to your session.

Laser Hair Removal Procedure

When you come to our Layton office for your laser hair removal session you should have shaved the area that morning. The length of your session will depend on the area we’re targeting. For instance, your underarms may take just a few minutes while your legs can take up to an hour. When we deliver the pulses of laser energy onto the targeted hair, you’ll feel a very brief prickling sensation. Patients often equate it to the feeling of a small rubber band being snapped on the skin. The handpiece of our laser delivers cooling at the same time as the laser energy; this keeps your skin comfortable.

risks Of laser hair removal

Lasers have been used for laser hair removal for almost 30 years, and the process was extensively tested prior to gaining FDA approval. Laser hair removal has proven to be reliable, effective, and safe. The most common side effects after treatment include skin irritation, such as redness and slight swelling on the treatment sites. This usually passes within a few hours.

Laser Hair Removal FAQs

how does laser hair removal work?

The laser light wavelength is set to match the color of the melanin in your hair. Then laser energy is delivered onto the unwanted hair in brief pulses. The melanin in the hair shafts absorbs the light energy. That energy instantly converts to heat and travels down the hair shaft into the hair follicle where it damages or destroys the follicle, precluding it from growing hair in the future.The millions of hairs on our bodies have three phases in their growth cycle: growth, transition, and rest.

Laser energy is only effective when the hair is in the growth phase, as is still actively anchored in the hair follicle. Laser energy that hits hairs in transition or at rest has no effect on the follicle, as the body is already shedding the hair. That’s the reason multiple laser hair removal sessions are necessary — to catch as many hairs as possible in the growth phase.

Where can I get laser hair removal on my body?

Laser hair removal can be done just about anywhere you want to get rid of the hair for good. The most popular areas we treat at Utah Facial Plastics are the underarms, bikini line, back, legs, upper lip, and chin. Some men opt for full-face hair removal to lessen the daily burden of shaving. Others opt to remove all of their chest hair. The only areas you cannot have laser hair removal are inside of the ears, inside the nostrils, and on the male genitalia.

How long does it take to see results?

It generally takes more than one session for the best results and though hair may start coming out in a week to two weeks and can be further helped by proper exfoliation, true results will not be evident for up to one year due to your hairs natural growth cycle, which generally last about 6 months.

Laser Hair Removal results vary from patient to patient with an average result of a reduction of approximately 80% hair growth when treatment was administered over four to six appointments. Some patients accomplish a complete hair removal that is permanent while still others may notice very little change in their hair growth.

What does laser hair removal feel like?

As with any procedure invasive or non-invasive, finding a qualified professional makes all the difference. If used incorrectly by an unskilled physician, burns can incur which can be very painful as well as potentially scarring. When used properly, however, most patients report that Laser Hair Removal pain is akin to a rubber band snapping against your skin.

People with more sensitive skin can be given a topical anesthetic to help alleviate the pain. Following the procedure some patients may have some slight swelling or redness, but it is generally minor and subsides in a few days.